Assembly Comprising A Non-Submersible Floating Structure And A Device For Attachment To The Sea Bottom, And Corresponding Mooring Process

ABSTRACT

The inventive arrangement comprises a triangular floating unsinkable structure ( 3 ) and a coupling device ( 7 ) which is positioned between said floating structure ( 3 ) and a sea bottom and embodied in the form of a pivot in such a way that it enables the floating structure ( 3 ) to be automatically and freely positioned according to the combination of sea winds and currents. The invention can be used for mooring boats.

This invention relates to an assembly comprising a non-submersiblefloating structure.

The invention applies in particular to the mooring of boats or vesselsof any kind.

Conventionally boats are moored in harbours or to mooring buoys, alsoknown as “moorings”, which only offer one berth per buoy.

However, the number of berths offered in this way is insufficient.

Thus in France the number of registered pleasure vessels is 841,000,while the number of berths in harbours is 165,000 and there are only60,000 mooring buoys.

To prevent congestion in harbours it is also possible for boats to beparked on land. However this solution, sometimes known as hauling out,also offers an insufficient number of places, and is also costly and notvery practical to implement.

In fact boats have to be launched for each outing using a slipway, forthe use of which there is a charge.

Furthermore, during the summer, slipways are frequently cluttered.

One object of this invention is to overcome this problem by allowing alarger number of boats to berth simply and at lower cost.

For this purpose the invention relates to an assembly according to claim1.

In accordance with particular embodiments, the assembly may comprise oneor more of the features in claims 2 to 15 taken in isolation or in alltechnically possible combinations.

The invention also relates to a process of mooring according to claim16.

Other advantages and characteristics of the present invention willbecome clear from the following detailed description which is given withreference to the appended drawings which are provided purely by way ofnon-limiting example and in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatical view from above of an assembly according tothe invention to which boats have been moored,

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatical view in cross-section of the coupling devicefor the assembly in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatical view from above illustrating the base of thecoupling device in FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatical perspective view illustrating a first variantembodiment of a floating structure for the assembly in FIG. 1,

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatical view from above illustrating a secondembodiment of a floating structure for the assembly in FIG. 1,

FIGS. 6 and 7 are views from above and from the front of a float used toconstruct the floating structure in FIG. 5,

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatical view from above illustrating the assembly ofseveral floating structures according to FIG. 4,

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatical perspective view detailing the assembly atthe corners of two floating structures according to FIG. 8,

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatical perspective view illustrating two floats ofa floating structure according to FIG. 5 and a plate for attachment to asimilar floating structure, and

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatical perspective view of the coupling device inFIG. 2 fitted with rings connecting to chains or cables.

FIG. 1 illustrates an assembly 1 comprising a non-submersible floatingstructure 3, or float or module, automatically positioning itself toprovide minimum resistance to the combination of winds and sea currents,to which several boats 5 are moored.

Freedom in the positioning of floating structure 3 is imparted by theuse of a coupling device 7 between floating structure 3 and the seabottom in the form of a pivot, also referred to as a “swivel”.

Assembly 1 therefore comprises floating structure 3 and coupling device7.

Floating structure 3 is of triangular shape and thus comprises threesides 9 and three corners 11. In the example illustrated, structure 3 isin the shape of an equilateral triangle.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, coupling device 7 comprises a base 13connected to the floating structure, and an arm 15 connected to the seabottom.

Arm 15 is rotatably received in base 13 so that it can pivot freely withrespect to base 13 about its axis. Arm 15 is provided at its topextremity with a universal joint 17 bearing on base 13. A ring 19 isplaced between universal joint 17 and base 13.

Preferably this ring 19 is manufactured from a material which reducesfriction, for example Delrin (registered trade mark).

As illustrated in FIG. 3, in the embodiment illustrated base 13 has atriangular shape and has a point of connection 23 to floating structure3, for example in the form of a hole, at each of its corners 21.

The connection between base 13 and floating structure 3 may for examplebe provided by means of chains or cables 123. In this case each hole 23may be used to secure a ring or shackle 24 receiving one end of a chainor cable 123 (FIG. 11).

Likewise arm 15 may be connected to the sea bottom through a chain orcable 125 to a ring 25 (FIG. 11) borne on the lower extremity of arm 15.

Through coupling device 7 floating structure 3 can pivot freely inrelation to the sea bottom about a substantially vertical axis A shownin FIG. 1.

Because of the triangular shape of floating structure 3 it willautomatically position itself so as to limit the forces acting upon itdue to the wind and currents. Thus floating structure 3 will pivotautomatically so that one of its corners 11 faces the resultant of theforces exerted by sea currents and winds, this resultant beingillustrated by arrow R in FIG. 1.

In addition to this, as illustrated in FIG. 1, floating structure 3 canbe used to moor a large number of boats 5.

In the example illustrated, two boats 5 are each moored along arespective side 9, while two other boats 5 are moored to the last side 9(at the bottom in FIG. 1) through single point moorings.

By single point moorings, as opposed to the term alongside mooring, ishere meant a mooring in which boat 5 is moored by its bow tocorresponding side 9, and does not lie substantially parallel thereto.

The number of boats 5 moored to structure 3 may also be less than thatin the example in FIG. 1. Thus, again by way of example, a single boat 5may be moored along one side and/or a single boat may have a singlepoint mooring to a side 9 rather than two as illustrated in FIG. 1.

Assembly 1 therefore makes it possible to increase the number of berthsfor boats or vessels.

In addition to this the cost of such an assembly 1 is low and it may beinstalled at very low cost by replacing an existing mooring buoy. Allthat is necessary is to anchor assembly 1 at the same point as thatpreviously used by the mooring buoy.

Furthermore, because of its triangular shape, structure 3 is extremelystable with very high buoyancy, very little yaw and very good resistanceto waves to the extent that such a structure 3 may be used forapplications other than the mooring of boats, as will be described atthe end of the description.

The freedom of structure 3 to pivot also helps to increase the stabilityof assembly 1, because forces acting on structure 3 will be minimisedfor the reasons described above. Risks of damage to moored boats 5 willtherefore be reduced.

Furthermore it will be noted that coupling device 7 makes it possible toreduce the risk of fouling the cables or chains connecting it tofloating structure 3.

Furthermore, the turning circle of assembly 1 is of small size.

Structure 3 may be made of miscellaneous and various materials such asfor example wood, metal, plastics and composite materials.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, floating structure 3 may be constructed on thebasis of triangular blocks 26. In the example in FIG. 4, floatingstructure 3 therefore comprises four blocks 26.

Structure 3 may also be constructed in other ways. Thus, and asillustrated by way of example in FIG. 5, structure 3 may comprisetubular floats 27 forming sides 9 of the triangle.

The structure of such a float 27 is illustrated in FIG. 6. It takes theform of a tube made of aluminium, for example by rolling and welding asheet. Partitions 29 may be placed within float 27 to form watertightchambers 31. The extremities of float 27 terminate in plates 33 forattachment to adjacent floats 27, for example by bolting. It will benoted that these plates 33 are inclined by approximately 30° withrespect to the longitudinal axis of float 27.

In general, whatever variant is used, fenders or fender buoys 34 may beprovided at the sides 9 and/or corners 11 (FIG. 5) of floating structure3.

Returning to FIG. 5, it will be seen that floating structure 3 isprovided with a triangular deck 35, only part of which has been shown.This deck may be supported by struts 36 connecting floats 27 together.

In general, structure 3 may be provided with a deck 35, whetherconstructed in accordance with FIG. 4 or 5, or in accordance with anyother variant. This deck 35 may extend over the main part of floatingstructure 3.

Several floating structures 3 may be assembled together through theirsides 9 or corners 11 to form floating areas of variable size andgeometrical shape.

This is illustrated for example in FIG. 8, where structures 3 arestructures similar to those in FIG. 4.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, this assembly may be brought about throughfixing plates 37 which engage in slots 39 in adjacent corners 11 and areheld there for example by means of bolts 41.

Several floating structures 3 according to the embodiment in FIG. 5 maybe assembled together as illustrated in FIG. 10 using fixing plates 37which have two leaves 39 each of which is of a shape similar to that ofa plate 33, leaves 39 being inclined by an angle of approximately 60°with respect to each other. Each of leaves 39 is then designed to beinserted between plates 33 of floats 27 joining a structure 3 at thesame angle 11. By bolting plates 33 together leaf 39 can be rigidlyfixed to corresponding corners 11 of two adjacent floating structures 3.

Other embodiments of floating structures 3 may be envisaged.

In addition to or instead of being used for the mooring of boats thefloating structures described above may be used as floating safetystructures for leisure activities and nautical sports, or for the safetyof beaches affected by large tides, such as in the Bay of Mont SaintMichel, by forming refuges. They also may be used for:

acting as stands or bases for leisure activities and nautical sports,

use as advertising space,

marking off areas,

forming floating barrages,

providing boats with various services, fuel, fresh water and recovery ofwaste water, access to communication means,

the construction of private, public or commercial accommodation,

the organisation of events and shows,

acting as a base for scientific or military research,

the construction of an airport or heliport platform, and

industries producing in aquatic environments.

It will be noted that structure 3 and coupling device 7 may be soldseparately and not necessarily as part of the same assembly.

1-16. (canceled) 17: An assembly comprising; a non-submersible floatingstructure capable of simultaneously mooring at least two vessels; and acoupling device between the floating structure and a bed of a body ofwater, the coupling device including a pivot so that the floatingstructure is capable of position itself freely and automaticallyaccording to a combination of winds and water currents to limit forceson the floating structure due to the winds and water currents. 18: Theassembly according to claim 17 wherein the floating structure includes acorner, the floating structure automatically pivoting so that the corneris positioned facing a resultant force of the forces exerted by thewinds and water currents on the floating structure. 19: The assemblyaccording to claim 18 wherein the floating structure has a triangularshape. 20: The assembly according to claim 19 wherein the floatingstructure has three sides and three corners, each of the at least twovessels being moored lengthwise along a length of a respective side. 21:The assembly according to claim 17 wherein the coupling device includesa base connectable to the floating structure and an arm connectable tothe bed, the arm being received in the base. 22: The assembly accordingto claim 21 wherein one extremity of the arm includes a universal jointbearing on the base. 23: The assembly according to claim 21 wherein thecoupling device includes a piece inserted between the universal jointand the base, the piece being made of a friction-limiting material. 24:The assembly according to claim 21 wherein the base includes at leasttwo points of connection to the floating structure. 25: The assemblyaccording to claim 24 wherein the base has a polygonal shape includingseveral corners, the connecting points being each provided at one cornerof the corners of the base. 26: The assembly according to claim 25wherein the base has a triangular shape. 27: The assembly according toclaim 17 wherein the floating structure has sides formed of tubularfloats. 28: The assembly according to claim 27 wherein the floats aremade of aluminium. 29: The assembly according to claim 27 wherein thefloating structure defines an equilateral triangle. 30: The assemblyaccording to claim 17 including a connector attaching the floatingstructure to at least one other floating structure through corners orsides. 31: The assembly according to claim 30 wherein the connectorincludes plates designed to be fixed in the corners of the floatingstructure and at least one of the other floating structures. 32: Theassembly according to claim 30 further comprising the at least one otherfloating structure, the floating structure and the at least one otherfloating structure being assembled together using the connector. 33: Theassembly according to claim 17 wherein the floating structure isconnected to the bed and at least one boat is moored to the floatingstructure. 34: The assembly according to claim 33 wherein the at leastone boat has a single point mooring to one side of the floatingstructure. 35: The assembly according to claim 34 wherein two vesselsare moored to the floating structure, each vessel being mooredlengthwise along a length of a respective side of the floatingstructure. 36: The assembly according to claim 17 wherein the bed is asea bed and wherein the water currents are sea currents. 37: Theassembly as recited in claim 17 further comprising a chain or cableconnecting the pivot to the bed. 38: The assembly as recited in claim 37further comprising a further chain or cable connecting the floatingstructure to the pivot. 39: The assembly as recited in claim 17 furthercomprising a chain or cable connecting the floating structure to thepivot. 40: The assembly as recited in claim 17 wherein the floatingstructure has a yaw-reducing shape. 41: The assembly as recited in claim17 wherein the floating structure has a variable geometric shape. 42: Amethod for mooring at least one boat to the floating structure of theassembly recited in claim 17 comprising mooring the boat via a singlepoint mooring to one side of the floating structure.